Cars, Alex McDonald Hit While Training.

Alex McDonald Hit By Truck While Cycling In North Carolina
Published: Feb 25th 2011 4:16 PM EST by Competitor.com

Professional triathlete and medical doctor Alex McDonald has been seriously injured after being hit by a pickup truck on a bike ride Thursday in his hometown of Durham, N.C.

According to several news sources, McDonald suffered two broken legs and underwent surgery for six hours at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. According to his schedule on Alexmantri.com, McDonald’s next race was to be Ironman St. George on Saturday, May 7.

This seems to be a rough week around the globe, in Brazil, where a motorist mowed down more than a dozen in a group ride. Man Slaughter is the only thing that comes to mind. Watch video here.

Police Hits Cyclist Video!

It happens, never think that you can see all. Feel bad for the police officer since the women was all in black, and worse for the lady that was hit, apparently she was ok.

Killer Hill Workout

Kettlebells + Hill = Killer Workout

Published: Feb 18th 2011 5:30 PM EST by Jene Shaw

These hill repeats incorporate kettlebell swings that’ll get your hamstrings and glutes firing.

It’s a short, fast-paced workout awesome for increasing flexibility and building core strength while also reaping the power-gaining benefits of hill running. USAT coach Jessica Herschberg, of FTP Coaching in Nashville, Tenn. says her athletes can barely make the 10 rounds.

Kettlebell Hill Repeats

- Start at the bottom of a short, steep hill (roughly 150 yards)
- Perform 20 kettlebell swings (12-16kg for women, 16-20kg for men)
- Immediately sprint up the hill
- Walk back to start
- Repeat 10 times.

(If you don’t have a kettlebell, a dumbbell is a fine alternative.)

Proper kettlebell form:

Place the kettlebell between your feet. Hinge at the hips as if you are about to sit in a chair and bend the knees until your hands can grasp the handle. Start the swing by popping the hips forward until your knees are locked out, glutes tight and kettlebell reaches chest height. Let the kettlebell swing back between your legs, hinging again at the hips, and letting your wrists hit the sides of your groin so the kettlebell is tucked right underneath the buttocks. Immediately and explosively pop your hips forward again to perform the next rep. “You should feel this in your hamstrings,” Herschberg says. “Make sure you are looking forward so your shoulders aren’t rounded.”

Team Timex

To have goals moves us forward. That being said, everyone should try to make a team or get a sponsor for 2012. Sponsorships come in many different flavors, from ambassador to full paid. Both are good and have rewards, After reading about Team Timex this will be a goal of mine.

The focus and dedication that each one of these athletes puts forth is inspirational.

After an an early morning swim at a nearby high school and breakfast at the Timex Performance Center, Team Timex was shuttled across the Meadowlands Sports Complex to the New Giants Stadium. There, the team was directed to the field level Coaches Club, which was adorned with banners celebrating winning Team Timex athletes since 2003. Also on display were the team tri tanks representing each season of the 10-year history. The triathletes were able to walk out on to the sidelines taking in the enormity that is New Giants Stadium from this rare point-of-view.

Team Timex attended a presentation by Timex Sales and Marketing executives in the Coaches Club, which wrapped up with yet another surprise. They were led to the Giants locker room where they found each locker personalized with a Timex Multisport Team placard with their names and backpacks loaded with gear for the 2011 season. Items included tri-tops, running shorts, jackets and hats. The team was ecstatic!

MAKE A GOAL AND ACHIEVE IT!

McCormack To Pass On Kona, Go For 2012 Olympics – Triathlete.com

McCormack To Pass On Kona, Go For 2012 Olympics – Triathlete.com: "Reigning Ironman world champion Chris McCormack has announced that he will pass on the opportunity to defend his title at the 2011 Ironman World Championship and will instead go for a spot on Australia’s 2012 London Olympic team.

Macca made the announcement in an interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph (which you can read here), saying: “It the one thing in my career I regret, not making an Olympics. This is my last shot. The door swings shut after this.

“I don’t know if I am fast enough anymore to win but I’d love to be there to help an Australian win a medal.”

He then confirmed that he is meeting with the Australian High Performance Team via Twitter: @MaccaNow: News is out. Have a meeting w/ the Australian High Performance Team on Sat. I am aware this is a big move, but u only live once!

The news will send shockwaves through triathlon – both long and short course – as the former Olympic distance World Champion will spend the year now chasing the points he requites for Olympic qualification.

Full Body Workout

Endurance Planet Offers Three Free Training Plans

Come one, Come All!

Endurance Planet, which offers free marathon, trail-running, triathlon, and endurance sports audio podcasts and videos, has announced a series of free endurance sports training plans from the website http://www.enduranceplanet.com.

Ben Greenfield, exercise physiologist and sports nutritionist (and frequent contributor to the TP Blog!) says, “We’d like to give our loyal Endurance Planet audience clear direction in their workouts and races, and the opportunity to see how much better it feels to have a structured training program.”

Ben designed the plans using TrainingPeaks, so people who download the plans will have all the great functionality that comes with a TrainingPeaks account, including the free TrainingPeaks App and mobile site, e-mail workout notifications, and the ability to view their calendar and plan at any time from any computer with internet access.

Happy Valentines Day, treat your loved one or ones.

68% of American Over Weight or Obese, REALLY!

NO IMAGE NEEDED

WAKE UP AMERICA, this is not getting better, changing the way that one eats starts at home with the young. They model what we as adults do. What child is going to turn down a donut, NONE. it might be a little more work but the outcome could be living life longer, passing down the family name.

Studies conducted jointly by researchers at Imperial College London and Harvard University, published in the medical journal The Lancet, show that obesity worldwide almost doubled in the decades between 1980 and 2008.

In 2008, 9.8 percent of men and 13.8% of women - more than half a billion adults - were found to be obese, as measured by the Body Mass Index or BMI. BMI is usually measured by dividing the weight of an individual in kilograms by the square of his height in meters. A BMI in excess of 25 leads to being labeled as 'overweight' while BMI of above 30 is considered to be indicative of obesity.
One of the most conspicuous conclusions from the study was that obesity is no longer an affliction in the richer, developed nations only, but was fast spreading to low and middle-income nations too. Globally, the Pacific Island nations were found to have the highest BMI average.
In alarming news for Americans, BMI rose the fastest in the U.S. during the entire 28-year period studied, according to results of the study published in Bloomberg; in 2008, 68 per cent of Americans were found to be overweight while close to 34 percent were obese.

READ MORE, from International Business Times

Cross Fit Endurance, Workouts To Kick You Into Gear!

So you are feeling a little burnt out from the traditional triathlon training. Well change it up, you have read the article in Triathlete Magazine and you are wondering can it work. Look at it this way, you have to do core workouts and you have to do your normal training, why not mix. You can only get stronger and if Sprints are your distance, Cross Fit Endurance is a perfect fit. You will push yourself every single workout.

Have Fun!

Chose ONE of The Following Sports:

All sports do: 30:20 x 12 rounds, 30 seconds on 20 seconds off, all out efforts!

Swim: Use pool or open water

Bike: Use a Monarch ERG, stationary bike with wattage tool or something similar that can hold a load of 200+ watts

Run: Use a treadmill, set at 12% grade at 0-30 sec slower pace per mile than best 5k pace. Do not reduce the speed!

C2:Row 30:20×12

Yurbuds.. Won't Fall Out!

So if you like to have your earbuds in while you bike, run, walk, hike, skip, jump, roll, box, skate, Zumba or TRX then the Yurbuds are for you. Does not seem like a just going to the store and picking them out, but if they don't fall out, then it is worth it.

STEP 1. TAKING A GOOD PHOTO

After purchasing your custom yurbuds, you will be prompted to take a picture of your ear with any standard digital imaging device (i.e. digital camera, camera phone, or web-cam.). This image will need to include your choice of standard reference objects. The preferred choice is an Apple®-style earbud in your ear, or you can also use a United States quarter held on your cheek beside your ear (see pictures to the left for examples). If possible, save the image to a directory folder on your computer that will be easy to locate. You will also have the ability to email the photo, but that method may require additional processing time.


TAKING A BAD PHOTO

The images to the left are examples of bad photos. Be sure to include a reference object and make sure the image is a straight shot of your ear illustrated in the examples above. You may need someone to help take a picture of your ear.


STEP 2. UPLOADING YOUR PHOTO

If you didn't upload your photo during the purchase process, you will need to email your image to photos@yurbuds.com .


Please include your Order ID you received in the subject of the email.Add it as an attachment to your email and BE SURE to include your order number in the email so we can link your image to your purchase.


STEP 3. GET YOUR RECEIPT

After you've successfully sent your photo and completed your purchase, yurbuds will personally scan the the image of your ear for the perfect fit, and ship your order.

Running in the Winter, Tips:

Yes if you live in the tri-state area, you will need ice skates before running shoes. It is crazy outside, cars look like ice cubes, homes like Igloos. Well if you are going to venture out make sure you read and try to stick to these rules, by TrainingPeaks:
Between the wind, the snow, the dark, and the chilly temperatures, winter can blow a flurry of new obstacles into your running routine. Here are some tips from Runner’s World to help you plow through the season and keep your training on track:

Watch your step: You’ll get better traction on snow that’s been packed down (fresh powder can cover up ice patches). Wear a scarf or a ski mask to warm up the cold air so it doesn’t hurt your lungs. Run on the street if it’s been plowed (as long as it’s safe from traffic), and watch out for black ice. Run on the sidewalk if it’s clear of ice. Find a well-lit route; slow your pace.
Run during light and warmer times of day: The little dose of sunshine will help, and much of the ice will be melted.

Start into the wind: Start your run in to the wind, so you have the wind at your back on your way home. You’ll avoid getting chilled by the wind after you’ve been sweating.

Shorten your stride: When running on ice or snow, shorten your stride to help prevent slipping and falling. Focus on getting in time rather than pace or distance on challenging weather days. Use products Yak Trax to reduce the risk of falling.

Dress up: Dress in thin, light, wick-away layers that you can add or take off to suit your temperature. Make sure you have a running gear that blocks the wind and base layers that wick sweat away from your skin; don’t go out without gloves, mittens, and a hat or headband to cover your head. Dress for 15 to 20 degrees warmer. You should feel slightly chilled when you walk out the door. As you warm up and your body temperature starts to increase, you’ll feel better. You want to reduce the risk of overheating and sweating excessively. Use the Runner’s World “What Should I Wear” cold weather apparel calculator HERE. It will help you decide what to wear in all kinds of weather.

Defrost: Damp clothes increase heat loss. As soon as possible postrun, change into fleeces and sweats.

Find safety in numbers: With the dark and the ice, it’s a great time to run with a buddy or join a running group. You’ll have a built in reason to get out the door, and a friend to chat with along the way.

See and be seen: If you run in the dark hours, wear a reflective vest, a headlamp, or flashing lights so you’re seen in traffic. In snowy weather, wear bright clothing. Run with ID just in case. To find out more about which gear is the brightest, check out this article.


Don’t forget to warm up and cool down: When it’s cold out, your ligaments, tendons, and muscles take longer to loosen up, so extend your warmup. You might walk for five minutes, then spend five to 10 minutes alternating between walking and jogging as you ramp up to your target pace. When it’s below freezing, try part of your warmup indoors. Start your run on a treadmill, then head out once your legs feel ready but before you start sweating. After the run, keep your cooldown brief to avoid getting too chilled: Slow your pace for three to four minutes, then go inside. Take extra layers off and keep moving (walking on a treadmill, or just around your house) for another five to 10 minutes before hitting the shower.

Take it inside: If the roads are covered with ice, take it to the treadmill. Find hill work, speed sessions, and long runs all for the mill on this page, plus reviews of the latest models. If you can’t stand the mill, cross-train on the bike or elliptical trainer for the same amount of time you’d spend running. For tips on strength training and gym workouts, check out our cross-training page.

Set a goal: There is nothing more motivating than to train for a race or goal. Set a goal to run a 5-K, half-marathon, or reach a number of miles every month! You’ll have instant motivation in knowing you have to train for the race or hit your target mileage. Reward yourself with a treat—like new running gear—when you reach your goal. To find an event near you, check out our race finder at runnersworld.com/racefinder.

Soul Surfer, Inspirational Movie

Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, and hope. Born into a family of surfers on February 8, 1990, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany began surfing at a young age. At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition, the Rell Sun Menehune event on Oahu, where she won both the short and long board divisions. This sparked a love for surf competition within her spirit.

So why do many of us sit on the couch and hope things improve, from jobs to health. See the Film and choose to change. Bethany is a inspiration to both boys and girls, men and women.